Members of the Southend-based Team Viper triathlon squad put forward strong performances in the Ongar Aquathlon.

Tri-Sport Epping Club, who hosted the swimming and running event, laid on races for age groups from eight to 19 years with over 100 athletes taking part.

The swim was at Ongar Leisure Centre followed by a cross-country run from the rear of the building.

Tri-Sport's youngsters performed brilliantly in the younger age groups, but Team Viper dominated the key youth (15-16 years) and junior (17-19 years) events.

Both these races were run together over a 12-length 300 metres swim and three-lap 3,000 metre cross-country race.

On the male side there was half-a-dozen athletes out of the pool with a ten second margin, but on the run it was Team Viper junior Ben Wheeler (18) who took an early lead from youth team-mate Adam Hickey (14).

Hickey closed the gap on the second lap and these two pushed on side by side with Ben's younger brother and fastest swimmer Craig (15) stretching the pack some 30 seconds back.

Hickey made his move before the final lap and came in first overall and youth victor with a combined time of 13 mins. 46 secs.

Ben Wheeler followed in 14 mins. 01s to win the junior event. Brother Craig made it one-two-three for Team Viper (14 mins 50 secs) and second-placed youth to Hickey.

With 13-year-old dynamo Lucy Yates sidelined by a cross-country spiking injury, Team Viper's female chances of emulating their male team-mates rested on juniors Emma Bushby (17) and Kristina Marshall (16).

They lay second and third respectively after the swim behind Tri-Sport Epping's Anna Gray.

The home girl pushed hard early on the run, but it was Kristina who paced herself perfectly over the first lap before storming through to win overall (16 m. 59s).

Anna won the youth event and Emma was second junior to Kristina.

Published Friday, February 7, 2003

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